「是…的」(强调) "shì … de"

「是…的」(强调)("shì … de")means “是…的: emphasize the time / place / manner of a past action”. For an action already known to have happened, the 是…的 frame highlights a detail — WHEN, WHERE, or HOW it happened: 我是坐飞机来的 'It was by plane that I came'. Formation: 是 + 强调部分(时间/地点/方式)+ 的(针对已发生的动作)

是…的: emphasize the time / place / manner of a past action

HSK2

Formation

是 + 强调部分(时间/地点/方式)+ 的(针对已发生的动作)

Explanation

For an action already known to have happened, the 是…的 frame highlights a detail — WHEN, WHERE, or HOW it happened: 我是坐飞机来的 'It was by plane that I came'. 是 goes before the emphasized part, 的 at the end. 是 can sometimes be dropped, but 的 stays.

Examples

坐飞机来
wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.
I came by plane.
昨天到
tā shì zuótiān dào de.
It was yesterday that he arrived.

Note

For already-happened actions; 的 read neutral 'de'.

FAQ

「是…的」(强调) — what does it mean and how is it used?

是…的: emphasize the time / place / manner of a past action. For an action already known to have happened, the 是…的 frame highlights a detail — WHEN, WHERE, or HOW it happened: 我是坐飞机来的 'It was by plane that I came'. 是 goes before the emphasized part, 的 at the end. 是 can sometimes be dropped, but 的 stays.

「是…的」(强调) — how do you form it?

是 + 强调部分(时间/地点/方式)+ 的(针对已发生的动作)

「是…的」(强调) — any usage notes?

For already-happened actions; 的 read neutral 'de'.

Related grammar

Learn in the app →